Diamond
facets act like windows
and mirrors, concentrating
the brightness from light
sources, and then returning
it to your eyes.
The redder an Ideal-Scope
image, the brighter the
diamond.
All diamonds
leak some light. Generally
less leakage is better.
Leakage appears as white
areas in an Ideal-Scope.
Small areas of leakage around
the girdle add contrast
in the spaces between the
star tips.
Firey flashes are often
from girdle leakage areas,
especially in prong set
diamonds.
Too much girdle leakage makes
a diamond look small. A small
amount of girdle leakage aids
contrast
Pale pink in the table area is
normal. It is not as bad as it
appears. The pale area only leaks
25% and returns 75%.
Combine your Ideal Light with a CZ Comparison set that includes an excellent H&A's quality CZ and a bad cut CZ to make showing the difference easy.
Excellent H&A's cut CZ
Bad cut CZ
Head Shadow
The head
shadow star adds contrastand sparkle. Firey colors
also show up better in the
darker head shadow areas.
Ideal or Excellent
- diamonds show a dark "Hearts and Arrows" star
- the head shadow star shows good cutting & optical symmetry
Very
shallow
-
too many rays enter and leave
in the direction of your head
- when viewed close
up, your head blocks
some light sources
- dark patchy areas of head
shadow return less light
Very
deep
- rays enter and leave the table in the direction of your head
- your head blocks light to the table
- outer facets leak
- poor light return means a smaller look
